Cant find a Midwife? Here’s some Options
It is 05:24 and we are en route to a beach getaway five hours north. Time away is few and far between. But since launching Soul Midwifery, I know that time off call is absolutely paramount for longevity in this work and for being able to support as many women as I can long term.
I know some people feel saddened when their due date falls within one of these time periods, and I completely get it. Sadly, our options are limited in our area and in most regional locations. Private midwives are in much higher demand than there are midwives available to provide this care.
But fear not. Below are some options to explore if you are struggling to plan the dream home birth you were hoping for.
Private home birth midwives in surrounding areas
There are some private midwives offering home birth services around the Albury Wodonga region. Depending on your location, these may be an option for you.
The closest include
Claire from Your Birth Midwifery in Benalla
Emily and Tiff in Wagga Wagga
Marie from Midwyf Services who covers a large area including the Wagga region
Travelling private midwives
There are many Facebook groups that support women to connect with private midwives and discuss home birth options. Groups such as Homebirth Australia and Homebirth Victoria can be helpful places to start.
You can reach out in these spaces with your location and ask who may be able to assist you. Most midwives do not travel far outside their usual area, but you never know who may be closer than you think or willing to make an exception.
Travelling to a midwife
It is amazing how motivated and determined women can be to have the birth they desire. This is especially true for first time mothers or those with factors such as a previous cesarean, twins, or a breech baby. These situations often come with significant medical pressure toward intervention.
One thing that remains within your control is your care team.
Many women have taken big steps to secure the care they want, including renting an Airbnb close to their chosen midwife around the time of birth, or planning to birth at a friend’s home located near a midwife they trust.
It can be costly, but it is still possible.
Hospital based options and why your care team matters
If home birth is not an option, there are hospital based pathways available. What I really want to highlight here is that your birth team has a huge impact on how your birth unfolds. This includes antenatal and postnatal care, not just the day of birth.
I cannot tell you how many times I saw women’s births completely derailed during a single obstetric appointment when I worked in the hospital system. It was heartbreaking.
A common example
A woman sees a different provider at every visit. Sometimes a midwife, sometimes a junior doctor, sometimes a senior doctor. At one appointment, her fundal height measures three weeks ahead of what is expected. A growth scan is strongly encouraged. The scan estimates a large baby. Key word estimate.
From there, the pressure often begins. Repeated recommendations for induction, outdated research presented as fact, and subtle fear based conversations to encourage agreement.
After that, we often see the cascade of intervention that can occur when labour is started artificially. First time mothers in particular are more susceptible. Induction of labour carries around a sixty percent chance of an operative birth when it’s your first baby.
There is a very small chance that a woman truly does have an extremely large baby. But as a practitioner, and from watching how private midwives and holistic doctors approach these situations, I hate seeing women pushed down a path based on a small and often insignificant finding.
Choosing aligned antenatal and postnatal care
My point is this. Your antenatal and postnatal care matters. This is your safety net and your support through an incredibly vulnerable season.
If you value physiological birth and holistic health, find a provider who truly aligns with those values. On the other end of the spectrum, if you want highly medicalised care and expert surgical support, a private obstetrician may be the right fit.
Private midwifery care options
You still hold so much power over your birth story. I strongly encourage women to consider private midwifery care where possible.
At Soul Midwifery, we offer antenatal and postnatal care, and we have other midwives available to step in when someone is away. There are also other local providers offering similar models of care.
Vet your care provider carefully. Do they align with your vision for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum?
And the elephant in the room. What about the birth?
If hospital birth is your only option or your chosen one, the next best thing is building an incredible birth team to support you.
This might include a doula, a private midwife if available, and anyone you trust to advocate for you. Doulas can support you in early labour at home, help you avoid going into hospital too early, and support you in mapping out your preferences and navigating your birth journey.
At Soul, we work closely with the beautiful doulas at Riverina Doula Practice and can honestly say they are incredible. Approachable and deeply committed to supporting women however their birth unfolds.
These are some options worth exploring if you find yourself feeling stuck or disappointed. In an ideal world, every woman would have one known midwife and access to all places of birth. Unfortunately, very few midwives step into this line of work, and hospitals continue to carry high intervention rates.
We would love to support you however your journey unfolds, whether through home birth, private care, doula collaboration, or hospital support.
You are always welcome to schedule a free information call to explore your options. I hope this helps.
Hannah x
